A Chocolate Hug & Kiss

Howdy, I hope this post finds you well, organized, and in the holiday spirit!  I wanted to share with you a little project I did, for several sweet folks in my life.  

I wanted to 'package' some chocolates in a fun and festive way.  But, something a little different, and sweet.  So, I headed to Pinterest.  (who doesn't these days)  And I stumbled (happily) across these tiny little chocolate packages.  When I say 'tiny' that is exactly what I mean.  T I N Y !!!  But super cute!  Ok, let's just admit somethings are just more adorable when you shrink them.  These little packages are no exception to that rule.  So, I set out to my craft room, and whipped up 13 of them.

here they are:

the whole lot

Now, when I photographed them, I forgot to add something to the photo to show scale.  So, I will just describe the tininess.  Each little teeny tiny package holds one Hershey Kiss and one Hershey Hug.  And you have to put them in point to point, or you won't be able to close the little 'box'.  That's how teeny tiny they are.  But, the adorable-ness is off the charts!

I found a tutorial on-line, so I quickly made one 'sample', and then some whipped them up.  Super fast, and easy.  And they used scraps to complete.  So more bonus points. {smile}  

The original designer is Dani Dziama.  She is a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and on their official design team for 2017.  So, just a quick pointer if you make these: random pattern paper works best.  But if you use directional pattern paper, cut your pattern 4 1/4" wide, and pay close attention as to which end you put the closure.

a close-up

I wrapped the tops with various Stampin' Up! ribbon I had on hand.  These narrow ribbons work best.  Also, I added a dimensional adhesive (aka foam tape) to the back of each small oval sentiment.  Just to elevate it off the package.  I think these turned out super sweet!  And who knows they just may make an appearance at next years holiday craft fair!  {smile}

Well, thank you for stopping by.  I hope you have been inspired to create something unique and sweet for the folks in your life.  I am off to baking cupcakes.  A super sweet friend has placed an order of milk chocolate cake, sweet whipped filling, and green vanilla buttercream icing with tiny red hearts.  So, let's get this baking party started!  {smile}  They are for a Grinch-themed holiday party.  How fun is that?

A Shabby Country Christmas

Howdy, and welcome.  This post is a bit long, so grab a cup of tea, coffee, or any other favorite beverage.  Today, I felt like 'talking'.

For those who know me, or follow me regularly, you know that I have a weakness for pinks, blues, creams, and trims.  I think I can make just about anything shabby chic, with little to no effort.  Just give me a hot glue gun, a jar of buttons, my basket of seam binding and cotton trims, and watch out! {smile}  I also know that it is not the 'love' of everyone. (not quite sure why not, but oh well.)

I posted a decorated notebook I made last night, and well, I just HAD to make more.  I ended up decorating three large notebooks (5 1/2" x 7"), and three little ones (3" x 4 1/2").  They all ended up being just as sweet as can be.  But, I figure you already knew that {smile}.  So, this morning I woke up and started decorating a few more notebooks, but wanted to use some of this 'new to me' pretty paper.  So, I am sharing my creation with you and a few challenge blogs:  Scrapslet, Your Next Stamp, and Word Art Wednesday.  Here we go!

My first stop was Scrapslet.  Their current challenge is a color challenge.  This challenge is from Russia, but they don't have a translate button {frown}.  However, this collection of crafty ladies will certainly inspire you!

My next stop was Your Next Stamp.  Their current challenge is both a sketch and an inspirational photo.  You can use either, or both.  I am using the sketch.  I love their sketches, because they allow you to add your own style to these super user-friendly sketches.  This challenge is no exception.

I rotated the sketch 90 degrees.

And my last stop was Word Art Wednesday.  This is a constant for me.  Their challenges always have a scripture and the warmth and acceptance from these ladies is contagious!  I have never met any of them in real life, but I imagine they are the kind of ladies you invite over for tea, and sit and chat for hours.  Just plain lovely folks.  Oh, their current challenge is anything goes - family friendly.

and so, here is what I did:

decorated notebook (5 1/2" x 7")

Recipe:  I started with an ugly black notebook.  Then, I grabbed supplies from my craft room, and made it pretty!  {smile}  I used a chocolate brown card stock as my base, and layered on some pretty digital paper.  I used my corner rounder punch to round the bottom corners of a few of the papers, to mimic the notebook cover.  

My firs layer of paper is this beautiful blue winter pattern paper.  I added a strip of tiny polka dot paper across the top.   I then cut a rectangle piece of the brown reindeer pattern paper and adhered it on top.  The sketch has this piece under the band.  But, I wanted it to peek out of the top of the trim.

I next used a die to cut the decorative piece of pink pattern paper.  And a different die to cut the sentiment piece.  I thought that the various decorative edges would work well together, and break up the repeating pattern of rounded corners.  I hand-stamped my sentiment onto the scallop trimmed rectangle and adhered it to the front of my paper stack with foam tape.  I then took this stack of papers to my sewing machine and started sewing.  I did simple borders on all the pattern papers, except the scallop rectangle (due to the foam tape).  

I wrapped the cream cotton trim around the band at the top.  And wrapped a pale pink seam binding piece around that.  I tied the seam binding into a simple know.  I didn't want the bow to compete with any of the embellishments.  (To me Junk Bows are eye catching!  so that is why I kept it simple.)

I used a medium size snowflake die to cut a snowflake out of white glitter paper.  I cut the snowflake in half, to embellish my blossom.   For the blossom, I stacked three 4-petal flowers on top of each other, staggering the petal placement.  I secured the three blossoms with a brad.  I hot glued a faux pearl & rhinestone gem to the center of the blossom.  I hot glued the blossom and the two pieces of snowflake to the lower left corner of the notebook.  I also hot glued a silver decorative snowflake to the right upper corner of the sentiment piece.  

And the big finale is the snowflake charm on the spiral and a coordinating pen.  I cut a thin piece of pattern paper, rolled it up tight, and stuck it in the barrel of the pen.  I hope you like it.  I think it came out beautifully.  Oh, and here is a photo of the second notebook I decorated with the same pattern paper.

Thank you for stopping by to have a look-see, as to what I crafted.  And yeah, I'll post again soon.  Sometimes its just hard to stop crafting and take a photo.  But, I'm working on it! {smile}

My one and only holiday craft fair is December 2, 2017 @ La Cueva High School (Albuquerque, NM) from 9a to 4p.   Come out and see my crafts in person.  I promise you won't be disappointed!

Mini Hand Sanitizer Holder

Wow, I didn't realize that it has been almost a whole month since I posted.  I guess time really does fly.  I have been busy crafting.  I'm working on several holiday craft fair items, and trying to make new things, too.  And here is a 'new' item: mini hand sanitizer holder.  My thought process is making the packaging pretty for the little things; to give the gift big impact.  

A popular store, to do some basic holiday shopping is Bath & Body Works.  Let's face it, they have some wonderfully smelling soaps, lotions, candles, and various air fresheners.  They have a scent for just about everyone.  They are even carrying a mens line of products.  I was surprised (but not really) that they started carrying air fresheners for your car.  

An item that my grandchildren and I carry with us, is their mini hand sanitizers.  They even have 'fun' clips to hold these little bottles to your back pack, gym bag, purse, etc.  But, I want to make a 'fun' holiday package for these little bottles, and make gift giving easier and pretty.

front

We all have office/work gifts to get during the holiday season.  But, with everything else we all need to buy, we can't really afford to spend another hundred dollars.  So, we all wrack our brains trying to find something 'good', but not too expensive.  I work at a hospital, so everyone there are germ-a-phobes, and they all love food.  So, usually I make some homebaked goody.  But, this year, I think I'll get them these cute mini hand sanitizers.  They are relatively inexpensive 5 for $6.  An useful gift, without breaking the bank and I won't have to spend an hour in the kitchen {smile}.  Now, I need a way to package them, other than throwing them in a little gift bag. . . and that is how I came upon this idea!

Left-side

Right-side

This is my first one.  So, it isn't perfect.  There is usually a learning curve to making anything out of paper.  I usually keep these for my samples.  I don't give away these first generations, because they usually have a 'mistake' in/on them.
The sentiment rectangle is actually the 'piece' that holds the flap down/the box closed.  Pretty easy to load with the hand sanitizer, just slide the bottle in.  Easy, Peasy, and Pretty!
I used Ocean Tide card stock for the base.  I matted the pattern papers and sentiment rectangle onto Early Espresso card stock.  I added a small strip of foam tape to the bottom of the sentiment rectangle, to lift it off the box.  I used a small snowflake die to cut out the snowflake, using glitter paper.  I added a trio of wood-grain sequins to continue the woods-y feel of the pattern paper.  I used some scraps of this holiday themed pattern paper from 2 years ago.
I am going to try and make a 'bag' holder for these little bottles, too.  I think 'bags' may be a nice option.  {smile}

Sew, it's Monday

What a busy weekend.   But, I'm sure that you had one, as well.  Saturday, we threw and attended a birthday party for our oldest grand son.  He turned 3 {smile}.  Spiderman, was the theme.  We did a great job, and my daughter, hired two college students to dress and act like Spiderman and Venom.   Very fun!

So, that left Sunday to me!  I set down at my sewing machine and started getting some crafts done for the holiday Arts and Craft Shows.  I know that it seems crazy to some folks to start Christmas crafts.  But, I have at least four craft fairs this year.  For my usual inventory, I have about 5/6 different crafts, but I like to have a wide-selection of each craft on hand, so almost anyone can find something they like {smile} and hopefully purchase.  

Today, I started working on my altered onesies.  It's super easy for me to create for little girls.  Boys, for some reason, are hard.  So, today, I focused on easy.  Here are a few onesies, that I finished.  I have half a dozen completed.

birdie

 The 'birdie' is machine sewn onto the onesie.  

The button 'eye' is hand sewn.

blossom

The 'blossom' was created with three different size circles, 

and three circles of each size.  

The ribbon leaves were machine sewn onto the onesie.  

The button center is hand sewn.  

snowflake

The snowflake was cut from felted wool.

French knots are sewn at each end.  

The button and twine bow are hand sewn to the center.

Thank you for stopping by and taking a look.  I will be mailing out my Arts and Crafts fair schedule postcards, the first week of October 2013.  I will be selling at Arts and Craft Fairs in Albuquerque, New Mexico.   If you would like a postcard mailed to you, please email me your address, to: bachnucmed@excite.com  

Rustic Snowflake Tutorial

My last Arts & Crafts Fair for the holiday season is on 

Saturday, December 8, 2012.

It will be at the North Valley Academy from 10a to 3p.

Hope to see you there!

Welcome.  Today, I wanted to show you how I made my rustic embellishment pieces.  I didn't make a video, I took a few pictures.  That way, you won't have to wait through buffering, or delays in streaming, etc.
Lets get started!  I frequent a particular coffee shop, and so I started using some of my 'trash'.

keep your coffee cuff {smile}.

tear off one end.

 place the coffee cuff, texture side down on die

 (look how clean the edges are on the snowflake)

 paint the edges of the snowflake with paint.

(I used distressed picket fence paint.)

 dunk the painted snowflake in a tub of glitter.

 tap off the excess glitter.  

spray with Aqua Net hair spray.  

Let dry.

your snowflake is ready to embellish.

Here is what I did with my finished snowflake.

And here is what the whole package looks like:

I created another mini gift bag.  I used aqua mist card stock to make the panels that cover the brown paper bag.  I used various pattern papers from City Sidewalk by pink Paisley.  I used pool party seam binding.  The children playing in the snow, is actually a CTMH stamp set.  The 'don't open till dec. 25th' is a retired Stampin' Up! stamp set.  I used cream twine to tie a bow on the aqua mist button.

Thank you for looking.  I hope you are inspired to create something beautiful out of paper!

Happy Crafting!  hugs, Sharon W.